Southbridge youth football official denies accusations

Rob Philion, vice president of Southbridge Pop Warner Youth Football and Cheerleading, reads a statement today defending the Southbridge team's conduct in an injury-plagued game last month.

In what has turned into a battle of prepared statements, Rob Philion, vice president of Southbridge Pop Warner Youth Football and Cheer, invited reporters to McMahon Field yesterday and read a response to what he called Tantasqua Pop Warner's “inflammatory and false allegations.”

In a two-page statement earlier in the week, Tantasqua Pop Warner said its Southbridge counterpart's unwillingness to entertain responsibility for an injury-plagued Sept. 15 game “does a great disservice to their players, families and the Southbridge community at large.”

Both programs' Pee Wee football coaches were suspended for the remainder of the season by Central Massachusetts Pop Warner for conduct unbecoming of a coach. The punishments stem from the Sept. 15 game, during which five Tantasqua players suffered concussions.

After the game, Tantasqua asked the association for an investigation, alleging violations of the lopsided-score rule, improper weigh-in procedures and improper actions of the since-banished referees.

Standing at an entrance to the field, but not taking questions, Mr. Philion said his board decided to issue an official response “to properly, accurately and clearly communicate the facts as they relate” to the game.

He said the official score was 34-0 in favor of Southbridge. The scoreboard at game's end read 52-0, according to many, but since the game ended up being played under mercy rules, three defensive scoring plays should have been blown dead by officials, and were later rescinded.

He called Tantasqua's allegations false, and outlined several of Southbridge's efforts not to score when the outcome was decided. Given the difference in skill level, he asserted that the game should have never been played. He said the teams were slated to play twice, but because of the difference in skills, the schedule was amended.

Mr. Philion said decisive scores and imbalanced play are routine for Central Massachusetts Pop Warner football.

Tantasqua Pop Warner officials said they entered the game with 17 players. This was just one more than the minimum number allowed by Pop Warner, which says that when a team drops below 16 players, it must forfeit the game or have it rescheduled, Mr. Philion said.

The Braves suffered six injuries that day, including a shoulder injury. Four of the injuries occurred within the first six plays, according to Tantasqua.

Mr. Philion said it was important to note that Southbridge Pop Warner was not notified by Tantasqua coaches, the EMTs or game officials that Tantasqua had fewer than the minimum number of players allowed.

“We feel this is important because the fact that there were so many opportunities to do so,” the vice president said.

Suspended Southbridge head coach Scott S. Lazo did not attend the briefing, nor did his brother, Doug Lazo, Southbridge Pop Warner president, who was put on probation for one year.